Good evening and welcome to LIVE text commentary of the first leg of the Champions League last-16 clash between Arsenal and Barcelona at Emirates Stadium. It's a daunting task for Arsene Wenger's men who will surely need to conjure up one of their best performances of the season to give themselves a chance of ending the Catalan side's 32-match unbeaten record. Keeping the MSN strike-force at bay will be top of Petr Cech's wish-list as the Gunners look to snare an advantage to take to the Camp Nou for the second leg on March 16. Arsenal lost to Barca over two legs in 2010 and 2011 - can they make it third time lucky in 2016? It's a mouthwatering prospect and all gets underway at 19.45 GMT.
Champions League / Last 16
Emirates Stadium / 23.02.2016
/dnl.tntsports.co.uk/sd/img/match/football-header-bg-mobile.jpg)
/images.sports.gracenote.com/images/lib/basic/sport/football/club/logo/300/4007.png){kind=logo}
/images.sports.gracenote.com/images/lib/basic/sport/football/club/logo/300/4014.png){kind=logo}
- L. Messi(71', 83' PEN)
Live
Live Updates
/dnl.tntsports.co.uk/sd/img/placeholder/tnt_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Updated 23/02/2016 at 21:37 GMT
56'
Alba falls to the floor holding his face following a coming together with Giroud. It's a delayed reaction attempting get an Arsenal player in trouble. The referee has none of it, but we don't need to see that in the game.
55'
Messi rampages at the heart of the Arsenal defence. The Argentine feeds Neymar to his left who fails to return the favour with a weak cutback across the six-yard box. Let off for the home side.
54'
Wonderful sliding challenge from Bellerin denies Neymar on the left byline. The pressure is growing.
53'
PHOTO: Iniesta inspiration. Can the midfielder engineer the breakthrough?
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2016/02/23/1801501-38027311-2560-1440.jpg)
Image credit: Reuters
52'
A sustained period of Barcelona pressure ends with Iniesta's shot taking a big deflection, allowing Cech to race after it and complete a clearance..
51'
50'
ARSENAL SUB: Walcott on, Oxlade-Chamberlain off.
49'
GREAT SAVE! Neymar finally sprints free as the Arsenal defence parted. The Brazilian has Messi square but opts to try and beat Cech who makes a superb block to deny Barca the lead.
48'
Walcott is being readied by Arsenal. Looks like the Ox can't shake off that knock.
47'
PHOTO: Leo unleashes (first half pic)
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2016/02/23/1801500-38027291-2560-1440.jpg)
Image credit: Reuters
46'
KICK OFF! Barca restart the match hoping for more success in their bid to test Cech.
-
-
45+2'
HT: Arsenal 0-0 Barcelona. The Gunners have defended solidly and tried to hit Barca on the break. Oxlade-Chamberlain had their best chance but shot straight at ter Stegen. Barca struggled to carve out openings until the last 60 seconds of the half when Suarez twice went close. Finely poised.
45+1'
BARCA CHANCE! It's another opening for Suarez who guides a free header wide from Alves's brilliant hooked cross from the right.
45'
BARCA CHANCE! Suarez latches onto Messi's pass and fires past Cech, only to see Monreal clear it off the line.
44'
It looks like being a goalless first period. The one big chance fell to Arsenal and the Ox. Incidentally, the Gunners midfielder looks to be struggling since that challenge from Mascherano. Could he be a HT casualty?
43'
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2016/02/23/1801484-38026971-2560-1440.jpg)
Image credit: Imago
42'
Barca find a way through the Arsenal defence but Rakitic turns down the chance to shoot from the right of the area. Messi eventually takes it on but sees his shot deflect behind.
41'
Sanchez takes on Alves down the left. The Chilean jinks several times and then goes down as the ball goes behind. The referee gives the goal kick. No reward for Arsenal with a referee who is taking no messing!
40'
PHOTO: Oh dear, Ox.